Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order Setting California “30 x 30” Goal

Photo credit: Saira A

In the face of accelerating climate change and declines in global biodiversity, scientists have advocated for a global goal of protecting 30 percent of the planet’s land and water by 2030. Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order making that objective state policy.

 As we’ve shared before, this is a goal that outdoor recreation community should rally behind. Our community’s modes of recreation are defined by interaction with unique natural landscapes, topographies, and climate conditions. The recreational pursuits we enjoy—climbing, paddling, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, surfing, and more—require the protection of the places we recreate. Moreover, these pursuits—and the attention to the natural world they require—imbue in their participants an appreciation for nature, a stewardship ethic, and an attention to changes in conditions in the outdoors, both seasonal and longer term. The changes most of us are seeing in the condition of the natural world are disheartening, and the outdoor recreation community has a longstanding history and cultural commitment to advocacy for the protection of our natural world.

The California executive order directs state environmental protection and natural resource agencies to form a collaborative tasked with measuring baseline conditions and convening a wide range of stakeholders in the development of approaches to meeting the state’s 30 by 30 goal. The order is particularly positive with regard to its embrace of Tribes, working landscapes, outdoor recreation and hunting and angling; it’s a recognition that traditional conservation measures, taken alone, are not enough to meet the state’s—and the planet’s—needs. Among other points, the order states clearly that the 30 by 30 goal should be pursued in a way that “Expands equitable outdoor access and recreation for all Californians.”

As the state moves forward with this ambitious goal, there will be a lot of particulars to be worked out. Even as that process unfolds, though, there will be benefits as land managers and others begin their work with clear direction to move diligently towards protecting biodiversity and climate resilience. This executive order is a positive step forward for the state and the country, and we’re much looking forward to working in pursuit of the 30 by 30 objective.